Is There a Serial Killer in Byron Bay? | Australian True Crime

Mysterious disappearances, unsolved deaths & terrifying stories - Is a killer stalking Byron Bay? And could there be more than one? In 2019, 18-year-old Belgian backpacker Theo Hayez vanished after a night out in Byron Bay and was never seen again. Since then, the disturbing death of Jackson Stacker and the mysterious cases of Hugo Palmer and Erwan Ferrieux, among others, have become part of a chilling theory that a serial killer may be stalking northern New South Wales. As social media speculation collides with real police investigations, stories of alleged close calls and suspicious encounters continue to emerge. Are these tragedies connected - or has internet-fuelled fear created a modern Australian myth? In this episode, Tim & Xanthe separate fact from speculation and explore the stories that continue to terrify locals and travellers alike. Motive & Method is an expert-led weekly Australian true crime podcast. Join Dr Xanthe Weston and criminal psychologist Tim Watson-Munro as they unpack what really makes the offenders behind some of history’s most notorious cases tick, and also react and unpack crimes as they hit the headlines. ________________________________________ CHAPTERS: 00:00 The Dark Underbelly of Byron Bay 00:53 Byron's Hidden Crime Culture 02:55 Theo Hayez: The Disappearance 08:38 Jackson Stacker: Murder Ruled as Suicide? 14:48 New homicide investigation 16:02 Missing Backpackers 18:25 A hitch-hiking survivor story 20:47 Fact vs. Fiction: Is There a Serial Killer? 24:36 The 2026 NSW Parliamentary Inquiry